Trump's comments about the NFL throughout the weekend turned what had been relatively minor protests and isolated incidents by a small slew of payers into a league-wide uproar.

His comments included remarks about lower NFL television ratings, a retweet asking fans to boycott the league and a plea to the NFL to fire or suspend those who refused to stand for the national anthem. Trump fired up the issue on Friday in a speech in Alabama.

On Sunday, three teams — the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans — refused to come out for the national anthem while a plethora of owners denounced Trump's comments.

The owners included New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft,
who has a close relationship with Trump. Kraft notably gave Trump a Super Bowl ring following last season's championship, but issued a statement saying he was "deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday."